The Best Snorkelling in Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman snorkelling guide with details on the best snorkel sites, tips on how to snorkel, safety, protecting the reef and types of fish and marine life.
Grand Cayman boasts spectacular snorkelling
Grand Cayman offers as much entertainment below water as it does above water. Don a mask and snorkel and immerse yourself in an exotic landscape of coral and tropical fish. Don’t be surprised if you completely loose track of time – it’s a captivating world down there!
Launch Map
Grand Cayman Snorkelling Sites
Only accessible by boat, this is an absolute must! There are two sites – the shallower Sandbar, which is 3ft-4ft deep, and Stingray City, which lies at 12ft and is often declared the best 12ft dive in the world. You will be surrounded by dozens of tame southern stingrays, who will brush past you with their silky wings looking for food.
Primarily a shore dive with a mini–wall, snorkeller's can follow the edge of the wall, looking at the colourful reef fish and soft corals. Access to the water is easy from Macabuca (opposite the Turtle Centre in West Bay). If you are lucky you will catch a glimpse of sea turtles and stingrays.
Swim straight out from the beach and meander through coral heads scattered over a shallow sandy bottom. Explore the shoreline either side of the beach where the ironshore creates interesting rock formations with lots of little gulleys and inlets.
A white buoy marks a coral reef where you’ll find lots of friendly fish and maybe even some rays.
A good drift snorkel, the east to west current will push you along towards Rum Point. Expect depths of 3ft-10ft and lots of fish and soft corals.
Eden Rock and Devil’s Grotto
From Eden Rock or Don Fosters, swim out to the mooring balls marking these two dive/snorkel sites. Explore tunnels and overhangs, where large tarpon and grouper hang out. In the summer months the caves fill up with millions of tiny silversides – a very impressive and magical spectacle.
The famous vortex of silversides at Eden Rock with Tarpon ready to pounce
Spotts Beach
Public Beach
A great site to spot turtles as they feed on the sea grass. Beware of the currents. Strong swimmers only.
Strong Current Alert!
A few beaches in Cayman can have strong currents. If you find yourself caught in one, the most important thing is to stay calm.
- Don't try to swim against the current, this will only exhaust you and make it more difficult to escape.
- Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current's pull.
- Once you are free of the current, you can then swim back to shore at an angle.
- Float too, to calm yourself and regain energy when needed.
The Turtle Centre offers a variety of snorkelling experiences, including a chance to swim with turtles. The turtles are free to roam in the saltwater lagoon, and snorkellers can get up close and personal with them.
Cemetery Beach
Public Beach
Swim out to sea for 5 to 10 minutes to find the most vibrant part of the reef. A top snorkelling spot on SMB. Watch out for strong currents.
Cheeseburger Reef
In front of Burger King, access is from a small sandy patch on the north side of the building. Swim straight out to sea for 100-200 yards to find an abundance of reef fish and impressive coral formations rising up to within 10ft or less of the surface.
Lighthouse Point
Just a short swim from shore, snorkellers can enjoy the mini wall and thriving reef at Lighthouse Point. You’ll also see the Guardian of the Reef statue. Gear rentals are available at the on-site dive shop Divetech.
Wreck of the Cali
Less than 70ft from shore, opposite Le Vele restaurant, the wreck of a 244ft freighter lies in 20ft-30ft of water. Sunk in 1948, over the years numerous fish and corals have made their home in and around the wreck. Permission from the port authority is required to visit the site though as it is in the port anchorage area. You can contact the Port Security office on VHF 16 or on (345) 914 3700.
